A new Government transport plan which sets out the future priority roads in Cumbria has attracted further controversy.

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has described a proposal to omit the A591 - the main route through the Lake District - as a "big mistake".

It follows criticism of a move to prioritise the A596 over the notorious Carlisle to Cockermouth stretch of the A595.

The Government has stressed that no final decisions have been made, and the draft plan could change after consultation.

A map of the Major Road Network has been published by the Department of Transport to show which roads it plans to include.

Once finalised, it will determine which routes can bid for funding from a new pot of money for future upgrades.

Mr Farron said the A591, which runs from Kendal to Keswick, is among the most economically vital in the county.

He said the 2015 floods, which saw a large section of this road destroyed, highlighted its importance to tourism and trade.

The Liberal Democrat has now written to Transport Secretary Chris Grayling urging him to reconsider its omission from the plan.

“The A591 is the key artery through the Lake District," he said.

“When Storm Desmond forced it to close in 2015, it showed just how important the road is to the county.

“With the Lake District gaining World Heritage Site status, including the A591 in the Major Road Network should’ve been an absolute no brainer.

"I will push the Department of Transport until they fix this big mistake.”

Cumbria County Council leader Stewart Young has previously said that the authority, alongside with the Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), would be pushing to have the A591 included, along with the Cockermouth to Carlisle stretch of the A595.

Health campaigners are among those concerned about plans to prioritise the A596, which takes traffic through Workington, Aspatria, Maryport, Flimby and other villages.

They say that the growing number of patients travelling by ambulance between hospitals in Whitehaven and Carlisle will use the A595 in an emergency, as that it the most direct route.

Yet there have long been concerns about the state of the single-carriageway Cockermouth to Carlisle stretch, which is regularly closed by accidents and bad weather.

The public consultation closes on March 19.

To view the map in full and leave feedback, visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/proposals-for-the-creation-of-a-major-road-network